What is acetaminophen and butalbital?
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Acetaminophen is a pain reliever and fever reducer.
Butalbital is in a group of drugs called barbiturates. It relaxes muscle contractions involved in a tension headache.
The combination of acetaminophen and butalbital is used to treat tension headaches. This medicine is not for treating headaches that come and go.
Acetaminophen and butalbital may also be used for purposes not listed in this medication guide.
What happens if I miss a dose?
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Since acetaminophen and butalbital is taken as needed, you may not be on a dosing schedule. If you are taking the medication regularly, take the missed dose as soon as you remember. Skip the missed dose if it is almost time for your next scheduled dose. Do not take extra medicine to make up the missed dose.
What happens if I overdose?
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Seek emergency medical attention or call the Poison Help line at 1-800-222-1222. An overdose of acetaminophen and butalbital can be fatal.
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The first signs of an acetaminophen overdose include loss of appetite, nausea, vomiting, stomach pain, sweating, and confusion or weakness. Later symptoms may include pain in your upper stomach, dark urine, and yellowing of your skin or the whites of your eyes.
Overdose symptoms may also include extreme drowsiness, confusion, fainting, shallow breathing, or no breathing.
What should I avoid while taking acetaminophen and butalbital?
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This medication may impair your thinking or reactions. Be careful if you drive or do anything that requires you to be alert. |
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Ask a doctor or pharmacist before using any other cold, allergy, pain, or sleep medication. Acetaminophen (sometimes abbreviated as APAP) is contained in many combination medicines. Taking certain products together can cause you to get too much acetaminophen which can lead to a fatal overdose. Check the label to see if a medicine contains acetaminophen or APAP. |
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Avoid drinking alcohol. It may increase your risk of liver damage while taking acetaminophen. |
What are the possible side effects of acetaminophen and butalbital?
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Get emergency medical help if you have any of these signs of an allergic reaction: hives; difficulty breathing; swelling of your face, lips, tongue, or throat. |
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Call your doctor at once if you have a serious side effect such as: |
- fast or pounding heart rate, feeling short of breath;
- feeling like you might pass out;
- confusion, depression;
- feeling restless, excited, or agitated;
- seizure (convulsions); or
- nausea, upper stomach pain, itching, loss of appetite, dark urine, clay-colored stools, jaundice (yellowing of the skin or eyes).
Less serious side effects include:
- headache, dizziness, drowsiness, shaky feeling;
- drunk feeling;
- vomiting, constipation;
- heartburn, trouble swallowing;
- numbness or tingly feeling;
- dry mouth;
- sweating or urinating more than usual;
- leg pain, tired muscles;
- stuffy nose, ear pain, ringing in your ears; or
- mild itching.
This is not a complete list of side effects and others may occur. Call your doctor for medical advice about side effects. You may report side effects to FDA at 1-800-FDA-1088.
What other drugs will affect acetaminophen and butalbital?
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Cold or allergy medicine, sedatives, narcotic pain medicine, sleeping pills, muscle relaxers, and medicine for seizures, depression or anxiety can add to sleepiness caused by butalbital. Tell your doctor if you regularly use any of these medicines. |
Tell your doctor about all other medicines you use, especially:
- an MAO inhibitor such as furazolidone (Furoxone), isocarboxazid (Marplan), phenelzine (Nardil), rasagiline (Azilect), selegiline (Eldepryl, Emsam, Zelapar), or tranylcypromine (Parnate).
This list is not complete and other drugs may interact with acetaminophen and butalbital. Tell your doctor about all medications you use. This includes prescription, over-the-counter, vitamin, and herbal products. Do not start a new medication without telling your doctor.
Where can I get more information?
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Your pharmacist can provide more information about acetaminophen and butalbital.
Remember, keep this and all other medicines out of the reach of children, never share your medicines with others, and use this medication only for the indication prescribed.
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